Fitness device

ABSTRACT

The inventive fitness device is embodied in the form of an article of clothing, consisting of a pair of trousers, for example, consisting of an airtight outer skin ( 1 ) made of an elastic plastic material, and a distancing layer ( 2 ) which is arranged thereunder and made of a distancing knitted fabric consisting of monolfilament fibres. Sealing edges ( 6 ) are produced by wrapping the outer skin ( 1 ) over the distancing layer ( 2 ). A vacuum tube ( 4 ) can be connected to a connection piece ( 3 ). A portable vacuum pump ( 5 ) produces a medically and advantageously indexed negative differential pressure in relation to atmospheric pressure, which extends into the entire article of clothing as a result of the distancing layer ( 2 ). The vacuum pump ( 5 ) is fastened to a strip ( 7 ) which can be worn on the shoulders or in an otherwise appropriate position.

The present invention pertains to a fitness device in the form of anarticle of clothing according to the preamble of claim 1.

Fitness devices of this type are known—under various designations—fromU.S. Pat. No. 726,791 (D1), U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,114 (D2) and WO 01/52787(D3). The present invention and the related state of the art are basedon the notion that the blood circulation, particularly of thesubcutaneous fat tissue—that usually has an inferior blood circulation,can be improved by subjecting certain sections of the human body to aslight external vacuum. If the metabolic rate is simultaneouslyincreased by means of physical activity, more fat tissue can bemetabolized due to the improved blood circulation. For example, thevacuum can be applied by arranging a stationary training device, e.g., abicycle ergometer or a treadmill, in a vacuum chamber, wherein personsinterested in this type of training under vacuum conditions enter thevacuum chamber that typically accommodates the body to a height abovethe hips. An elastic and airtight seal adjoins the body above the hips.Training devices of this type are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No.5,133,339 and EP 0 906 774. However, such stationary systems are quitecostly and the users need to frequent the facilities, in which thesesystems are installed. In addition, the athletic or, in more generalterms, physical activity is extremely limited. These disadvantages wereat least partially eliminated with the devices described in D1-D3.

The main disadvantage of an article of clothing that should serve as areplacement for a stationary system of the above-described type can beseen in the fact that such an article of clothing needs to contain anairtight outer skin. When a negative differential pressure referred tothe atmospheric pressure is generated within this outer skin by means ofa stationary (D1, D2) or portable (D3) air pump, the atmosphericpressure acts upon the entire partially evacuated surface of thisarticle of clothing such that it is pressed against the body surface.This decisively impairs the evacuation of the space between the articleof clothing and the body surface.

This is taken into account with the spacers claimed in D1 and D3. Thesespacers are realized rigidly in D1 and consist of pressurized tubularpneumatic elements in D3. However, these spacers act as reinforcing ribstogether with the outer skin that is subjected to the differentialpressure. Such reinforcing ribs impair the athletic or, in more generalterms, physical activity of the wearer. Despite these known spacers, itis still possible for the outer skin to locally adjoin the body surfacesuch that the function of this article of clothing, namely animprovement in the blood circulation of the subcutaneous fat tissue, isnot achieved at all locations.

The present invention aims to disclose a spacer that eliminates theaforementioned disadvantages and makes it possible to simplify theoverall design of the article of clothing and the corresponding pumpunit while simultaneously lowering the costs substantially.

This objective is attained with the characteristics disclosed in thecharacterizing portion of claim 1, wherein other advantageousembodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to theenclosed figures. The figures show:

FIG. 1, a top view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2, a longitudinal section through a part of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3, a longitudinal section through a special part of FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an article of clothing according to theinvention that is realized in the form of shorts. These shorts comprisean outer skin 1 that is made of an airtight and elastic material, forexample, polyurethane (PU). A spacing layer 2 that is essentially cutinto the same shape as the outer skin 1 lies underneath this outer skin1. The spacing layer consists of a knitted spacer fabric. Knitted spacerfabrics are basically known in the textile industry and need to consistof monofilament fibers if the desired purpose should be fulfilled.Naturally, it would also be possible to utilize knitted spacer fabricsconsisting of different textile fibers; the decisive factor in thisrespect is superior air permeability in the directions perpendicular tothe outer skin 1.

A connection piece 3 for a vacuum hose 4 is arranged at a suitablelocation of the outer skin 1. This vacuum hose leads to a portable,battery-operated vacuum pump that is preferably accommodated in a pouch5 with a strap 7. The aforementioned vacuum pump is rated such that itcan generate and maintain a differential pressure between 10 and 50 hPareferred to the atmospheric pressure at the expected leakage rate of thesealing edges 6. The strap 7 is designed for wearing the pump over theshoulder or for attaching the pump to the body in another suitablefashion. Articles of clothing with a complex shape or for ensuring auniform vacuum over the entire body surface in question naturally mayalso comprise two or more connection pieces 3, as well as acorresponding number of vacuum hoses 4 or, if so required, one branchedvacuum hose 4. FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the upperpart of one side of the article of clothing according to FIG. 1. Theindividual parts are illustrated slightly spaced apart from one anotherin order to provide a better overview. In the region of the sealing edge6, the outer skin 1 consisting of an elastic plastic material, forexample, is folded inward over the spacing layer 2 and directly adjoinsthe body identified by the reference symbol 8. If so required, a thinlayer 9 of a suitable cream or gel may be applied between the inwardlyfolded part of the outer skin 1 and the body surface.

The outer skin 1 and the spacing layer 2 are respectively cutready-to-wear into the respective shape and size of the article ofclothing such that they can be washed separately. Since the two parts 1,2 are connected by simply folding the outer skin 1 inward, no connectingelements need to be disengaged in order to clean the article ofclothing. If a suitable cut is chosen for the spacing layer 2, it can beensured that only a small selection of ready-to-wear sizes is required.

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the article of clothing inthe region of the connection piece 3. In order to improve the airthroughput perpendicular to the spacing layer 2, a second layer 10 ofthe knitted spacer fabric can be applied onto the spacing layer 2 atthis location and connected thereto. The connection piece 3 may bedesigned in such a way that a hat-shaped part 11 thereof extends througha preferably round opening in the outer skin 1, wherein a clamp 12 isplaced over the cylindrical section of the part 11 such that it pressesthe edge of the round opening in the outer skin 1 against the flatsection of the part 11. The vacuum hose 4 is subsequently pushed ontothe aforementioned cylindrical section of the part 11 and fixed thereon.Other suitable connections are generally known and customarily used inthe field of connecting systems.

The spacing layer 2 provided easily makes it possible to arrange sensorsfor monitoring certain functions of the person wearing the article ofclothing. Such sensors may be provided, for example, for measuring theskin temperature at different locations, the conductivity of the skin,the pulse or the breathing rate, wherein the latter can be determined,for example, based on the tension in the abdominal region of the articleof clothing. These sensors may be connected to a suitable datacollecting device that is also accommodated in a pouch 7 and suppliedwith power by the same battery as the vacuum pump according to theinvention. This indicates that the fitness device in the form of anarticle of clothing can also be utilized as a measuring and monitoringdevice in the field of sports medicine, namely because the athleticactivity—particularly with respect to endurance sports—is hardlyrestricted by the article of clothing. In addition, costly andrestricting telemetry devices can be eliminated by providing a suitabledata collecting device.

Although the shorts shown in FIG. 1 presumably represent the mostpopular article of clothing according to the invention, it should beunderstood that this embodiment merely has an exemplary character.According to the invention, it would also be possible to realizeankle-length trousers, a top that only subjects parts of the upperbody—for example, the upper arms—to a partial vacuum or even a full-bodygarment, all of which comprise the airtight outer skin 1 and the spacinglayer 2. In all variations of the invention, it is possible to excludecertain sections of the body from the partial vacuum, in which casethese sections are simply covered by a suitable air-permeable textilematerial.

1. A fitness device in the form of an article of clothing, comprising anairtight and elastic outer skin (1), a vacuum pump for generating apartial vacuum between the body surface of the person wearing thearticle of clothing and the outer skin (1), and a spacer between thebody surface and the outer skin (1), wherein the vacuum pump is realizedin a battery-operated fashion and can be carried along in a pouch 15,and wherein the vacuum pump is connected to a connection piece (3)arranged on the article of clothing by means of a vacuum hose (4),characterized in that the spacer consists of a textile spacing layer (2)that is at least partially cut into the same shape as the article ofclothing.
 2. The fitness device according to claim 1, characterized inthat the spacing layer (2) consists of a knitted spacer fabric that ismade of monofilament fibers.
 3. The fitness device according to claim 2,characterized in that the article of clothing contains sealing edges (6)that are formed by the elastic outer skin (1).
 4. The fitness deviceaccording to claim 3, characterized in that the sealing edges consist ofsections that are folded over the spacing layer (2).
 5. The fitnessdevice according to claim 2, characterized in that the article ofclothing covers the entire body between the neck and the ankles.
 6. Thefitness device according to claim 2, characterized in that the articleof clothing consists of trousers that extend above the hips.
 7. Thefitness device according to claim 6, characterized in that the trousersare realized in the form of ankle-length trousers.
 8. The fitness deviceaccording to claim 6, characterized in that the trousers end underneaththe thighs.
 9. The fitness device according to claim 2, characterized inthat the article of clothing at least partially covers the upper bodyonly.
 10. The fitness device according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe spacing layer (2) is cut ready-to-wear into the respective shape andsize of the article of clothing, and in that the outer skin (1) and thespacing layer (2) are not connected to one another.
 11. The fitnessdevice according to claim 2, characterized in that the article ofclothing contains sensors for acquiring predetermined body parameters ofthe person wearing the article of clothing, in that a data collectingdevice is provided and connected to the aforementioned sensors, and inthat said data collecting device is portable.
 12. The fitness deviceaccording to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises at least oneskin temperature sensor.
 13. The fitness device according to claim 11,characterized in that it comprises at least one skin conductivitysensor.
 14. The fitness device according to claim 11, characterized inthat it comprises a pulse frequency sensor.
 15. The fitness deviceaccording to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a breathingrate sensor.
 16. The fitness device according to claim 1, characterizedin that it comprises more than one connection piece (3) and acorresponding number of vacuum hoses (4).